Software cost calculator
How long will your software take to build?
Answer eight quick questions and see the effort, timeline and team your project is likely to need. Then send it to a founder, one of the people who would build it, for a written estimate.
What to bring to the call
From your answers: have these ready and the first call goes much further.
- A few sentences on the problem it solves and who will use it
- The main kinds of users and what each one needs to do
- The must-have features for launch, and what can wait
- The systems it must connect to, with links to their API docs if you have them
How the estimate works
No AI and no guesswork from a salesperson: a transparent model of how our projects usually go, applied to your answers in your browser. Read more in our guide to what custom software development costs.
- 01
A baseline for the kind of product
Each project type starts from the effort a typical first version takes with us: a marketing site is far smaller than a multi-tenant SaaS platform.
- 02
Scope, features and platforms
The phase you choose scales the baseline, each feature adds the effort it usually takes, and every extra platform adds the work it doesn't share with the others.
- 03
Integrations, design and compliance
Connections to other systems, the depth of design work, regulated-industry requirements and existing code each add a share of the effort.
- 04
Delivery and an honest range
Testing, project management and release work go on top, and the result is a range rather than one number, because every project has unknowns until it's scoped.
Questions about the calculator
How accurate is the estimate?
It's a starting range based on typical projects, good enough to plan a budget conversation. Your real estimate depends on details only a scoping call reveals: your users, existing systems and how much is already decided. A founder reviews your answers and sends a written estimate within one working day.
Does the calculator use AI or send my answers anywhere?
No. The estimate is simple arithmetic that runs in your browser as you click. Nothing is sent or stored unless you choose to send the form, and then your answers go only to the Authect founders with your message.
Why is the result in weeks and hours?
Effort and time are what actually drive the cost of software. A founder turns them into a fixed price or a monthly sprint budget once we understand your project, so the number you get is one we can stand behind.
Can the timeline be shorter?
Often, by cutting scope rather than adding people. A focused MVP that answers one question ships much sooner than a full product, and AI-accelerated delivery shortens the routine parts. We'll suggest what to cut when we review your answers.
What happens after I send my estimate?
A founder reads it, may ask a few questions by email, and replies with a written estimate and a suggested plan within one working day. There is no salesperson and no obligation.
Who owns the code if we work together?
You do, from day one: the code, the infrastructure accounts and the designs. Nothing is locked to us.